At the end of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Guang's tyranny plunged the realm into chaos. Heroes rose up everywhere and flames of war spread across the land. It seemed anyone could claim a share of the spoils, yet no one expected that the ones who would ultimately seize the realm were Li Yuan and his sons of Taiyuan.
Li Yuan came from the elite Guanlong aristocracy. He commanded a powerful army and had deep reserves of strength, appearing modest while being ruthless and decisive. In 617, he rose in rebellion at Taiyuan without hesitation. His forces swept through the land, capturing Chang'an in just a few months and taking control of the realm's political heart. The following year, he ascended the throne and founded the Tang Dynasty. From the start, he moved swiftly and decisively, securing the realm in a single stroke.
His son Li Shimin was even hailed as the greatest warrior of the late Sui. He led troops as a young man and swept across the land, defeating Xue Ju and Liu Wuzhou, capturing Dou Jiande, and subduing Wang Shichong. With his own strength, he crushed every separatist power and won more than half the territory that would become the Great Tang.
With military achievements that shook the realm, Li Shimin refused to remain subordinate. One decisive strike at Xuanwu Gate settled the matter, and he ascended the throne. He then ushered in the Reign of Zhenguan, achieving civil and military feats unmatched through the ages. The surrounding peoples submitted and honored him as the Heavenly Khan. Father and son joined forces to rise from the chaos in just a few short years, creating the most glorious age in Chinese history. The action never lets up, and the thrills are nonstop.
